Coherent Active Sonar Waveform Analysis Using Pressure/Velocity Phase Comparison for Improved Detection and Classification

The objective of this project is to develop a new means of detecting and classifying undersea targets in the return of active sonar waveforms, as well as in their forward scatter zone. The techniques under discussion cover an area of detection and classification that is currently un-attainable with the current system. Previous tests regarding forward scatter detection had not been able to establish acceptable False Alarm Rates (FAR) at a sufficiently high Probability of Detection (PD) to warrant further development. However, newer developments using an array of co-located pressure and pressure gradient (i.e. velocity) sensors with appropriate signal processing, showed potential as an undersea target detection and classification mechanism. This project follows up on these tests, both from a theoretical and practical measurement sense, to define and develop sonobuoy systems which are capable of this new detection technique.